Stefano ManfrediniUniversity of Ferrara

The Health Properties of Baobab(Adansonia Digitata)

Verona 6, September, 2002

BAOBAB (Adansonia Digitata L)

FAMILY: BombacaceaeGENUS: Adansonia L.SPECIES: Adansonia Digitata Lin

SYMBOL OF AFRICA ALSO KNOWN:

“MAGIC TREE”“CHEMIST TREE”“SYMBOL OF THE EARTH”“THE TOP-DOWN TREE”

PARTS OF THE BAOBAB TREE EMPLOYED:FRUITLEAVESSEEDSBARK

NATURALY DRIED FRUIT PULP

The baobab fruit pulp is spontaneously dried, a unique characteristic.

It is a non processed product, just a mechanical separation of the powder is needed!

A REALLY NATURAL PRODUCT…

NUTRITIONAL VALUES OF BAOBAB NUTRITIONAL VALUES OF BAOBAB FRUITFRUIT PULP PULP

HEALTH BENEFITSHEALTH BENEFITS• Antioxidant • Source of soluble fibers with PREBIOTIC-LIKE

activity in vitro.• Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic activity• Anti-diarrhoea, anti-dysentery activity, anti-

costipation• Source of micronutrients• Natural and interesting excipient

HEALTH BENEFITSHEALTH BENEFITS

• Antioxidant • Source of soluble fibers with PREBIOTIC-LIKE activity • Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic activity• Anti-diarrhoea, anti-dysentery activity, anti-costipation• Source of micronutrients• Natural and interesting excipient

• Intestinal diseases• Atherosclerosis• Reumatic disorders• Reperfusion injuries• Neurodegeneration• Respiratory disorders

• Cardiac diseases• Cancer• Early ageing• Transplantation• Inflammation• Diabetes

Free radical oxidative stress is Free radical oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of a implicated in the pathogenesis of a

variety of human variety of human deseasesdeseases

Eichelbaum M., Gross S. Advanches Drug Res. 1996, 64

BAOBAB PULP FRUIT CONTAINS VARIOUS BAOBAB PULP FRUIT CONTAINS VARIOUS ANTIOXIDANTS COMPOUNDS:ANTIOXIDANTS COMPOUNDS:

• High concentration of Vitamin C (300 mg/100 g corresponding to the content of six oranges)

• Bioflavonoids• Alfa Linolenic acid• Provitamin A

COMPOUNDS THAT WORKCOMPOUNDS THAT WORKSYNEGISTICALLYSYNEGISTICALLY

Recycling AntioxidantsROOH

ROO°

Tocopherol

Tocopherylradical

Ascorbate

Ascorbylradical

Dehydroascorbate

FlO°

FlOH

αLipoate

Dihydrolipoate NAD(P)H

NAD(P)

(CA)

(G)

CA: Carnosic acid G: Galdosol CRS: Cellular Reduction Systems

Cossins E., Lee R., Packer L. Biochem. & Mol. Biol. Intl. 3, 583-597, 1998.

AscorbateAscorbate and and VitaminVitamin E E recyclingrecycling pathwayspathways..Ascorbate is regenerated from its radical form by thiols, either enzymatically (GSH) or non-enzymatically(NAD(P)H-dependent). Flavonoids (FLOH) are proposed to act as H-donor restoring ascorbate and generatinga flavonoid radical (FLO°)

CRS

TOTAL ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF BAOBAB FRUIT TOTAL ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF BAOBAB FRUIT PRODUCTSPRODUCTS

PCL Assay versus Trolox used as a standardDATA FROM UNIVERSITY OF FERRARA

© BAOBAB FRUIT COMPANY

Lipid-Soluble (ACL) antioxidant Capacity

Baobab seeds

Sunflowers extract

Not determined

012345678910

Trolox Equivalents (mmol/g)

Water-soluble (ACW) antioxidant capacity

Vegetal extract with 90% OPC

Fruit Pulp

Dry Leaves

Entire fruit shell grounded

Fruit shell powdered

(Not determined)

Not determined

Fruit Pulp (glycolic extract) Leaves

(glycolic extract)

Vegetal extract with 95% OPC

0 , 0 0 1, 0 0 2 , 0 0 3 , 0 0 4 , 0 0 5 , 0 0 6 , 0 0 7 , 0 0 8 , 0 0 9 , 0 0 10 , 0 0

Trolox equivalents (mmol/g)

HEALTH BENEFITSHEALTH BENEFITS

• Antioxidant • Source of soluble fibers with PREBIOTIC-LIKE

activity• Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic activity• Anti-diarrhoea, anti-dysentery activity, anti-costipation• Source of micronutrients• Natural and interesting excipient

BAOBAB PULP FRUIT CONTAIN ABOUT 50% OF FIBRESBAOBAB PULP FRUIT CONTAIN ABOUT 50% OF FIBRES

THE SOLUBLE PART IS RESPONSABLE OF

THE PREBIOTIC ACTIVITY OF PULP

FRUIT

25% water insoluble25% water insoluble25% water soluble25% water soluble

In vitro In vitro activityactivity on the promotion of on the promotion of symbioticsymbiotic bacteriabacteria growthgrowth

EFFECT OF BAOBAB PULP FRUIT ON BIFIDOBACTERIA GROWTH© PATENT APLICATION OF BAOBAB FRUIT COMPANY

Bifidobacterium longum

0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2

1,4

h 0 h 5 h 10 h 25

Time

Abs

TPY+GLU+BTPY+BTPY+GLUTPY

Bifidobacterium infantis

00,20,40,60,8

1

h 0 h 5 h 10 h 25

time

Abs

TPY+GLU+BTPY+BTPY+GLUTPY

TPY: BasalB: Baobab 2%GLU: Glucose 2%

EFFECT OF BAOBAB PULP FRUIT ON BIFIDOBACTERA GROWTH© PATENT APPLICATION OF BAOBAB FRUIT COMPANY

Bifidobacterium bifidum B16

0

0,5

1

1,5

h 0 h 5 h 10 h 25

time

Abs

TPY+GLU+BTPY+BTPY+GLUTPY

Bifidobacterium bifidum A3

00,20,40,60,8

1

h 0 h 5 h 10 h 25

time

Abs

TPY+GLU+BTPY+BTPY+GLUTPY

TPY: BasalB: Baobab 2%GLU: Glucose 2%

In vitro In vitro activityactivity on the promotion of on the promotion of symbioticsymbiotic bacteriabacteria growthgrowth

GrowthGrowth stimulationstimulation on infantile on infantile faecalisfaecalis samplessamples

EFFECT OF BAOBAB PULP FRUIT ON BACTERIA GROWTH© PATENT APPLICATION OF BAOBAB FRUIT COMPANY

-5.000.000.000

10.000.000.00015.000.000.00020.000.000.00025.000.000.00030.000.000.00035.000.000.00040.000.000.000

ufc/g

0 6 8 24ore

bifido batteri

BaobabGlucosio

-1.000.000.0002.000.000.0003.000.000.0004.000.000.0005.000.000.0006.000.000.0007.000.000.0008.000.000.0009.000.000.000

0 6 8 24

Lattobacilli

BaobabGlucosio

-

10.000

20.000

30.000

40.000

50.000

0 6 8 24

Clostridi

BaobabGlucosio

HEALTH BENEFITSHEALTH BENEFITS

• Antioxidant • Source of soluble fibers with PREBIOTIC-LIKE

activity• Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic

activity• Anti-diarrhoea, anti-dysentery activity, anti-

costipation• Source of micronutrients• Natural and interesting excipient

BAOBAB PULP FRUIT IS USED IN AFRICA AS ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, ANALGESIC,

ANTIPIRETIC

In vivo STUDIES ON RATS AND MICE DEMOSTRATED IT

500 mg/kg BAOBAB PULP FRUIT corresponds to 15 mg/kg PHENYLBUTAZONEand 50 mg/kg ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID

Kerharo J, Adam JG. La pharmacopée sénégalaise traditionelle. Plantes Médicales et Toxiques. Editions Vigot Frères, Paris, 1974Ramadan FM, Harraz SA, El-Mougy. Antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects of the fruit pulp of Adansonia digitata. Fitoterapia, 65(5):418-422, 1994

BAOBAB PULP FRUITMAY BE USED FOR CHRONICINFLAMATORY DISEASES

The effect is due to sterols, saponins and triterpenes

HEALTH BENEFITSHEALTH BENEFITS

• Antioxidant • Source of soluble fibers with PREBIOTIC

activity* • Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic activity• Anti-diarrhoea, anti-dysentery activity,

anti-costipation• Source of micronutrients• Natural and interesting excipient

BAOBAB PULP FRUIT IS EFFECTIVE AGAINST SOME INTESTINAL

DISEASES

Lockett CT, Calvert CC, Grivetti LE. Energy and micronutrient composition of dietary and medicinal wild plants consumed during drought. Study of rural Fulani, Northeastern Nigeria. Int J Food Sci Nutr, 51, 195-208, 2000

Tal-Dia A, Toure K, Sarr O, Sarr M, Cisse MF, Garnier P, Wone I. A baobab solution for the prevention and treatment of acute dehydration in infantile diarrhea. Dakar Med, 42(1):68-73, 1997

Galil NE. Evaluation of Baobab (Gonglase) solution for home management of diarrhoea in Sudanese children. PhD Thesis in Agriculture, 152 pp, Jun 1996

BAOBAB PULP FRUITHAS BEEN USED TO TREAT INFANTILE DIARROHEA

Clinical study on 160 children age 8 months

EFFECTS ON INTESTINAL TRACT ARE DUE TO FIBRES, TANNINS,

MUCILLAGES

• Anti-dysentery and diarrhea because of tannins (astrigent), mucillages (adsorbents), cellulose. Proposed as substitute for WHO-solution.

• Colon normalization (Prebiotic effect)• Anti-costipation effect because of insoluble

fibers and emollient effect

HEALTH BENEFITSHEALTH BENEFITS

• Antioxidant • Source of soluble fibers with PREBIOTIC

activity* • Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic activity• Anti-diarrhoea, anti-dysentery activity, anti-

costipation• Source of micronutrients• Natural and interesting excipient

BAOBAB PULP FRUIT IS A NATURAL SOURCE OF NUTRIENTS AND

MICRONUTRIENTS• Vitamins C, A, B1, B6, PP• High source of bioavailable Calcium• Iron, Magnesium, potassium, Zinc, phosphorus• Aminoacids, glucose and fructose

BAOBAB PULP FRUITCAN BE USED AS NATURAL MULTINUTRIENT SOURCE

Obizoba IC, Anyika JU. Nutritiion value of baobab milk (gubdi) and mixtures of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) and hungry rice, acha (Digitaria exilis) flours. Plants Foods Hum Nutr, 46(2):157-165, 1994

Lockett CT, Calvert CC, Grivetti LE. Energy and micronutrient composition of dietary and medicinal wild plants consumed during drought. Study of rural Fulani, Northeastern Nigeria. Int J Food Sci Nutr, 51, 195-208, 2000

Odetokun SM. The nutritive value of Baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata). Riv Ital Sost Grasse, 73, 371-373, 1996

Baobab fruit pulp is rich in:• Aminoacids: proline, histidine, leucine,

lysine, arginine, isoleucine, methionine, cysteine, phenylalanine, glutamic acid, valine, tyrosine, tryptophan, threonine.

• Minerals: calcium (2mg/g), phosphorous (0.9-2 mg/g), iron, potassium (0.02mg/g), sodium, magnesium, zinc, manganese.

• Vitamins: vitamin C (3 mg/g), vitamin A, vitamin B1-B2-B6, vitamin PP.

• Carbohydrates: glucose (0.08 mg/g), fructose (0.17mg/g), saccharose (0.1mg/g), maltose, soluble polysaccharides, starch(0.4mg/g).

HEALTH BENEFITSHEALTH BENEFITS

• Antioxidant • Source of soluble fibers with PREBIOTIC-LIKE

activity• Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic activity• Anti-diarrhoea, anti-dysentery activity, anti-

costipation• Source of micronutrients• Natural and interesting excipient

BAOBAB PULP FRUIT POWDER HAS GOOD LUBRIFICANTING, BINDING-

AGENT, DILUTING CHARACTERISTICS

BAOBAB PULP FRUIT CAN BE USED AS NATURAL EXCIPIENT IN NATURAL

PRODUCTSArama E, Michaud P, Rouffiac R, Rodriguez F. Biodisponibilité de comprimés à libération prolongée de théophylline et de

paracétamol formulés avec la pulpe de fruit du baobab (Adansonia digitata L.). Pharm Acta Helv, 64(4):116-120, 1989Arama E, Michaud P, Rouffiac R, Rodriguez F. Un nouvel excipient en formulation pharmaceutique de comprimés de

théophylline, type matrice hydrophile: la pulpe de fruit du baobab (Adansonia digitata L.). Farmaco [Prat], 43(10):303-15, 1988

In some studies it was used, as hydrophilic excipient,for the preparation of paracetamol and theophylline tablets

BAOBAB SEEDS• The seeds can be eaten fresh, dried or roasted

and are sometimes used as a coffee substitute• The seedcake, as well as the shells from the fruit,

are a useful stockfeed, being high in protein, calcium, vitamin B1 and vitamin C.

• SEED OIL: Seeds are used to extract a clear, golden-yellow mobile oil, that has a slight nuttyaroma.

• Constituents: equal measure of palmitic acid, oleicacid and linoleic acid; small quantities of stearicand cyclopropenoid acids

• It has been used extensively for cooking.

SEED OIL

• PROPERTIES: moisturizing benefits for skincare, hair conditioner: interesting ingredient in skin care formulations, such as lotions and cremes.

• STABILITY: advantage of Baobab over other oilsis its stability during storage.

• It stores longer than other unrefined oils and blends easily with other essential and fixed oils. itis used in the cosmetics industry, and is edible.

LEAVES• The leaves (fresh and dried) are used in cooking as a type of

spinach and can also be used as forage

• FRESH LEAVES: are rich in Vitamin C as well as in uronicacids, rhamnose and other sugars, tannins, potassium

tartrate, catechins, etc.

THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES: diaphoretic | expectorant | astringent | prophylactic against fever | antihistamine

APPLICATION: kidney and bladder diseases | asthma | general fatigue | diarrhoea | inflammations | insect bites |

Guinea worm

Dried leaves powderIn the Pharmacopée traditionnelle sénégalaise

the powder of the dried leaves is used as• Antiasthmatic (property that the researchers give to the

presence of Adansonia flavonoside composed of dehydroxyflavane)

• Antidysenteric• Antirachitic• Tonic• Antipiretic (when used as an herbal tea) • Antidiaphoretic• Emollient (either by internal usage or external use,

for cosmetic products) • Anti-inflammatory for urinary-tracts

Micro-nutrient composition

Dried leavesCalcium: 2.266Phosphorus: 26,1

Vitamin C: Traces

Thiamine: 0,13

Riboflavine: 0,82

Niacine: 4,83

Fresh leaves• 0.180 to 0.343

• 0.38 to 0.53

• Equivalent to 4856 Mcg of Vitamin A

All data are expressed in g/on 100 g of product

CHIMIC COMPOSITION OF DRIED LEAVES

Autor Water Protides Lipids Glucide Ash Celluloses

Pales (L.)

146 10.5 5.3 13.75 12.2 11.3

Toury and coll. (1)

11.5 13.1 2.3 - 8.8 -

Lunven (P.) et coll.

11.5 11.35 - 14.75 8.5 18.3

Toury and coll. (2)

11.7 13.1 2.28 53.5 9 10.4

Toury and coll. (3)

12 12.5 2.89 - 9.62 10

Dako

8.20 13.2 - - 11.7 11.5

Busson (F.)

13.35 10.3 3.55 - 10.8 10.2

BAOBAB BARK• Use: High moisture content of the wood (40% or

above) renders it unusable as a timber, its barkmakes and excellent fibre, employed in basket, rugand rope-making, and has been used variously to make fishing nets, animal snares, sacking and evenstrings for musical instruments.

THERAPEUTIC USE:A decoction of baobab bark can be used to control malaria.

The bark, which contains several flavonols, hasbeen distributed commercially in Europe under the name ‘cortex cael cedra’, as a fever treatment, and substitute for cinchona bark.

APPLICATION OF BAOBAB APPLICATION OF BAOBAB PULP FRUITPULP FRUIT

•HEALTH SUPPLEMENTS

•FUNCTIONAL FOOD INGREDIENTS

•COSMETOLOGY

HEALTH APPLICATION OF HEALTH APPLICATION OF BAOBAB PULP FRUITBAOBAB PULP FRUIT

POTENT NATURAL ANTIOXIDANT MIXTURE

ANTI-DIARRHOEA AND DYSENTERY ESPECIALLY IN INFANTS

PREBIOTIC IN ASSOCIATON WITH PROBIOTICS

ANTI-COSTIPATION NATURAL PRODUCT

FIBERS SOURCE IN WEIGHT-LOSS PRODUCTS

PRODUCTS FOR FITNESS

HEALTH APPLICATION OF HEALTH APPLICATION OF BAOBAB PULP FRUITBAOBAB PULP FRUIT

ANTI-INFLAMATORY PRODUCTS

FUNCTIONAL FOODS (YOGURT)

WOMAN HEALTH PRODUCT

PREVENTION OF SUN SKIN DAMAGE

NATURAL EXCIPIENT, ALSO FOR DRUG FORMULATION

FUNCTIONAL FLAVOUR FOR TABLETS

MARKETING CLAIMSMARKETING CLAIMS

REALY TOTALLY NATURALREALY TOTALLY NATURALTHE HARVESTING DO NOT DESTROY THE THE HARVESTING DO NOT DESTROY THE TREE AND ITS ECOSYSTEM TREE AND ITS ECOSYSTEM HELP AFRICAHELP AFRICAORGANICORGANICESOTIC BUT WELLESOTIC BUT WELL--KNOWN TREEKNOWN TREESUPPORTED BY LITERATURE AND SUPPORTED BY LITERATURE AND

CENTURIESCENTURIES--OLD TRADITIONAL USEOLD TRADITIONAL USESAFESAFE

“IF YOU SET ABOUT IT TO TOO LATE, YOU CAN NEVER GET RID OF IT AGAIN”Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The little prince

“I BAOBAB PRIMA DI DIVENTAR GRANDI COMINCIANOCON L’ESSERE PICCOLI”

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The little prince

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Useful plants in traditional control of insect pests Journal-of-Herbs,-Spices-and-Medicinal-Plants. 1998

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Fat content and fatty acid composition of oils extracted from selected wild-gathered tropical plant seeds from Nigeria. Journal-of-the-American-Oil-Chemists'-Society. 1998, 75: 8, 1031-1035; 21 ref.

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Provitamin A content of traditional green leaves from Niger. Cahiers-Agricultures. 1997, 6: 8, 553-560; 20 ref.

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Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects of the fruit pulp of Adansonia digitata. Fitoterapia. 1994, 65: 5, 418-422; 18 ref.

Nutritive value of baobab milk (gubdi) and mixtures of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) and hungry rice, acha (Digitaria exilis) flours. Plant-Foods-for-Human-Nutrition. 1994, 46: 2, 157-165; 30 ref.

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